title: Pathogenesis and current approaches to control of varicella-zoster virus infections.
abstract: Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) was once thought to be a fairly innocuous pathogen. That view is no longer tenable. The morbidity and mortality due to the primary and secondary diseases that VZV causes, varicella and herpes zoster (HZ), are significant. Fortunately, modern advances, including an available vaccine to prevent varicella, a therapeutic vaccine to diminish the incidence and ameliorate sequelae of HZ, effective antiviral drugs, a better understanding of VZV pathogenesis, and advances in diagnostic virology have made it possible to control VZV in the United States. Occult forms of VZV-induced disease have been recognized, including zoster sine herpete and enteric zoster, which have expanded the field. Future progress should include development of more effective vaccines to prevent HZ and a more complete understanding of the consequences of VZV latency in the enteric nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Anne A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gershon
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Gershon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D053061:Herpes Zoster Vaccine; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014481:United States; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D014775:Virus Activation; D017735:Virus Latency
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine; D053061:Herpes Zoster Vaccine; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated